Assessment of Household Food Security Status of Extension Services Beneficiaries in Obio Akpo and Emuoha LGAs in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the food security status of households who benefited from extension services in Obio Akpo and Emuoha Local Government Areas of Rivers State of Nigeria. The data used for the study was obtained from primary sources only. Structured questionnaires were administered on 240 respondents who were selected purposively and randomly respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive and copping strategy index to determine the food security status of the respondents. The results indicated that the beneficiaries of extension services fell between the ages of 20-59years. This result showed that the beneficiaries of extension services were young and full of energy which enhanced food production and security. Furthermore, the results also indicate that 80.4% of extension beneficiaries from Obio Akpo Local government area were food secured while 19.6% were food unsecured. However, 76.7% of beneficiaries of extension services from Emuoha Local Government Area were food secured whereas only 23.3% of beneficiaries were food unsecured. The food security status of beneficiaries of extension services from both Local government areas were food secured due to the reduced activities of the militants in the Niger Delta resulting from amnesty granted to the Militants during the period of this research work. Furthermore, there are increased assistance from oil companies and non-governmental organizations to enhance the food production and security in these local government areas.